CAMPBELL DIVORCE CASE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4738, 11 December 1886, Page 3

CAMPBELL DIVORCE CASE.

REVOLTING EVIDENCE. [Spkcial Message.] London, Nov. 20. Thk Campbell divorce caae commenced today. In this action there are cross suits. The principals are Lord Colin Campbell (the son of the Duke of Argyle, and the brother of the Marquis of Lome), and his wife, Lady Colin Campbell. The "Campbell scandal," as this casn is called, first came before the notice of the public about three years ago, when Lady Colin Campboll applied for a judicial separation. The application of her ladyship was tried in camera, but it was publicly announced that the grounds for the application wore the gross misconduct of Lord Colin Campbell, his marital infidelity and newlecr. Lady Colin Campbell succeeded in so far substantiating tho charges made against her husband that a judioial separation was This order Lord Colin sought, on several occasions, to have set aside. In frese attempts he failed. From that time Lord and Lady Campbell have lived apart. Subsequently to the order for the judicial soparation, Lady Colin Campbell obtained what was alleged to be proof of Lord Colin havinc outraged his matrimonial relation•hips/and a suit for a divorce was entered by Lady Colin. Two days afterwards Lord Colin Campbell entered a petition for divorceontheground of his wife'aadulteryarul misconduct. When the auit of Lord Colin was entered, it was stated that the Prince of Wales was to be made a co-respondent. The allegation as to improper relationship having existed between the Prince of Wale 3 and Lady Colin Campbell rested mainly upon the evidence said to be contained in* letters which the Prince was abated to have written to Lady Colin Campbell. But as the letters that have been found do not corroborate the allegations, the Prince of Wales' name has been withdrawn from the suit. Mr Randolph Want is tho solicitor acting on behalf of Lord Colin Campbell. Sir Charles Russell is the leading counsel for Lady Colin Campbell. The case ia arousing greater interest than ha 3 any other social event ever yet brought before the English law couits. On tho case being called for hearing, it was decided that aa Lady Colin Campbell's petition was filed two days before the petition of Lord Colin Campbell, her ladyship's case should be first tried. Sir Charlea Russell, in opening the case on behalf of Lady Colin Campbell, delivered a long and able apeech, in the course of which he made some most revolting charges against Lord Colin Campbell, which charges he aaid he should by unquestionable teatimony prove right up to the very hilt. He said that the conduct of Lord Colin Campbell has been disgusting and disgraceful in the extreme. In consequence of his vile conduct ao alarming became the condition of Lady Colin Campbell as well as that of her husband during their honeymoon that a specially trained hospital nurse had to be engaged to be constantly in attendance upon them. When Lady Colin Campbell obtained the judicial separation Lord Colin openly vowed vengeance against her, and threatened her ladyship he would apare neither money, social position, nor influence to rake from the very gutter evidence calculated to injure her fair fame. Soon after this Lady Colin Campbell went to Paris, and there lived with her mother. Lord Colin followed his wife, and tried every means in his power to secure evidence against her. He even went so far as to try to induce the police to arrest Lady Colin on a charge of leading a dissolute life, though at the time he knew her ladyship was leading a spotless life and was living with her mother. Lord Campbell had, however, Charged hia wife with having improper relations with the Duke of Marlborough, Captain Shaw the chief of the London Fire Brigade, Colonel Butler, the husband of "Miss Thompson," the painter of the " Roll Call," Dr Bird, and others ; but he (Sir Charles Russell) would be able to disprove those charges. Lady Miles was the first witness called, and testified to having seen Lord Colin Campbell in the act of infidelity with a housemaid named Watson, who was one of the servants of Lord and Lady Colin Campbell. Lady Miles did not reveal the knowledge of Lord Colin'a misconduct until after he had maligned the character of hia wife, who waa,~Lady Miles knew, innocent of the charges made against her. At the close of Lady Miles's evidence the case was adjourned. Latkr.— ln addition to the unworthy bonjugal relationship existing between Lord Colin Campbell and his wife. His Lordship is stated to be involved in a hopeless «tate of impecuiosity.